Do my children really need so much English education?

This raises a question: is teaching English from grade 1 through university truly reasonable?

I have two children—one in university and the other in grade 1. My youngest is still grappling with basic Vietnamese but is already required to learn English. Meanwhile, my university-aged child spends 40% of their study time on English, leaving less room to focus on their major.

Children raising their hands in an English class in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Thanh

Adding to the pressure, universities mandate a specific level of English proficiency for graduation. This has led me to wonder: are we prioritizing producing graduates with strong English skills at the cost of their professional expertise?

To be clear, I am not downplaying the importance of English. It is a valuable skill. However, the current system often dedicates excessive time to English without yielding practical results. Many students may not even need English in their future careers.

For a subset of students, English is undoubtedly essential. But for the majority, it is not. Learning English should occupy a reasonable portion of study time, allowing students to focus more on critical-thinking subjects like math.

At its core, English is a tool for work and communication. True career success depends more on thinking and problem-solving skills. My family, for example, runs a global business successfully without formal English qualifications. When needed, we use technology to handle English-related tasks.

With AI and translation technologies advancing rapidly, future generations may rely on tools to bridge language gaps, making English proficiency less critical. The gap between fluent English speakers and non-speakers is already narrowing.

This is why I believe English education should be tailored to individual needs rather than imposed uniformly. Students who will benefit from English in their future careers should be encouraged to learn it. Others should have the freedom to allocate more time to subjects that better suit their aspirations.

In conclusion, I am not advocating for the elimination of English from the curriculum. However, reducing the emphasis on English and shifting focus to subjects like math and literature would better serve students. Forcing children to endure ineffective English lessons at the expense of other important subjects is, ultimately, a waste of time and energy.